Drew Recognised for Overcoming the Odds

RSL Care has congratulated Drewsilla (Drew) Cumner a Personal Care Worker from RSL Care Fernhill in Caboolture who was awarded runner-up and highly commended in the Injured Work Achievement award category in the Queensland 2016 Safe Work and Return to Work Awards announced on 18 October. 

Drew was nominated for her amazing resilience and efforts to return to work after being struck by a car walking to work last year.

On the 19 June 2015 while walking to work she was struck by a car and suffered a traumatic brain injury. The incident deeply affected her colleagues at Fernhill and sent shockwaves through the entire organisation.

The impact of the injury affected every aspect of Drew’s life during this time she showed incredible resilience, determination and courage to overcome these hardships and recover.

Her ongoing rehabilitation has been managed by her treating GP, an external rehabilitation provider and the internal Senior Rehabilitation Advisor at RSL Care.

Drew successfully returned to work on a Suitable Duties Program on the 23 September. This was an amazing feat considering the extent of her injuries. She was very focussed on getting her life back to as normal as she possibly can.

“When I wasn’t at work I was in a rut and feeling depressed. Returning to work has definitely lifted my spirits. It has put me on a positive path, I am now being trained in medication management at work; this will help me with future career paths,” she said.

“You need to get back into your routine as soon as possible. I would be sitting at home just feeling miserable and doing nothing. Being able to go to work helps me keep busy and takes my mind off myself. I am no longer dwelling on things I can’t control. I now keep my mind busy and I don’t have time to be negative.”

Drew has also been able to learn new skills within RSL Care by working with the Diversional Therapists and taking on other responsibilities outside her normal role including medication management.

“It has been really good for my workplace, I can’t rally explain it but there is a positive vibe in the air. I have received wonderful help with my nursing and I am now training in medications and hope to continue nursing in my career,” she said.

“I was coming to a point where I wasn’t interested in coming back to work. I realised I’ve got to do it; I pushed myself to take that step out of the house again. It has been great for my recovery and improved my physical and mental capacity. I would be miserable if I wasn’t back at work.

“My advice to anyone in a similar position would be to push yourself and do it for yourself because no one else can do it for you."

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